[kaisersouse]

http://www.amazon.com/NooElec-RTL-SD.../dp/B008S7AVTC

combined with

http://sdrsharp.com/index.php/downloads


[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFcAANc5aOs[/ame]

USB adapter is $20 w/ shipping, software is free. Combine it with this antenna (both entry-level):
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2102469

-or-

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2103641

If you get into it, you can always upgrade the antenna. But yeah...you can hear/see everything from 25-1700mhz including air,police,fire,ham,cb,AM/FM...you name it. Is a fun toy, if for no other reason but to just snoop around and hear whats going on for signals around you.


*antennas will vary based on region (some places = no radio shack) but you get the idea. Any cheap scanner antenna will work, or you can make your own.

Its not THAT technical. Load the stick, load the software, attach an antenna....listen to everything around you.

EDIT: the person in the video is using an upconverter (likely homemade) to go below 25Mhz (shortwave) but you get the idea of what the software looks like and how it works. You'd only need an upconverter for anything below 25mhz.

[Kyle]

We can't get on the emergency service signals in the UK due to they use TETRA.

[kaisersouse]

Out of the box, no. With some additional tweaks/hacks...once you find the trunking pattern you can follow along

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrestrial_Trunked_Radio

[Vince]

In Belgium it is illegal to eavesdrop on the TETRA system, even though the signal is supposedly unencrypted. House searches have been conducted at some journalist homes.

[Scenario]

Very neat, thanks for sharing!

[Roperr]

Holy shit, getting into every radio frequency.

Surely worth a try!

[kaisersouse]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vince In Belgium it is illegal to eavesdrop on the TETRA system, even though the signal is supposedly unencrypted. House searches have been conducted at some journalist homes.

Technically, its pretty much impossible to detect such a receiver. They search reporters likely because some of the stuff in their reports would only be heard on a radio scanner. If you don't tell anyone, it cant otherwise be detected from the outside (yes the UK "unlicensed TV" vans were/are a load of crap).

Plus, its technically a public DVB receiver which is quite legal almost everywhere. The software on the computer is what unlocks its full capability. Ditch the software, USB stick can no longer listen in on public-service freqs

[TheArcher]

Awesome, I might try it later on . One question, can they receive your signal?

[kaisersouse]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheArcher Awesome, I might try it later on . One question, can they receive your signal?

This doesn't transmit, so you wont be emitting a signal at all (which means there is nothing for them to receive)


What this will do it let you listen to some parts of the radio spectrum that regular people CAN transmit on. If you hear stuff that interests you, you can look into getting a transceiver (transmitter+receiver) that will let you talk on that part of the radio. Most of those radios (transceiver) require you to get a license (very easy), some do not.

[kaisersouse]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KyleSmith We can't get on the emergency service signals in the UK due to they use TETRA.

http://public-xrp.s3.amazonaws.com/d...sharptrunk.htm

Look for "Unitrunker"